‘‘I don't know what to think about Tony Abbott. He reckons he wants to work with indigenous people but only time will tell if we are able to work with this man and his Government and bring about some real change.’’

Roach's work focused an international spotlight on the stolen generations and did much to mobilise Australia into action.

Roach says the Northern Territory intervention remains a ‘‘sore point’’ for indigenous people and he also wants to see Australia’s first people recognised in the constitution. Indigenous people should have also have a say in who is considered genuine asylum seekers: ‘‘People who are sincere. We know there are genuine people fleeing war torn countries who have no hope,’’ Roach said.

Roach, who suffered a stroke in 2010 and had surgery for lung cancer in 2011, also won a Deadly last night at the Sydney Opera House for indigenous album of the year, for Into the Bloodstream. "I'm just happy to be able to make music at this stage of my career, so it's a great honour to be recognised in this way," Roach said.

Deadlys organisers said Roach's contributions to his people "are deep, long-lasting and real . . . his work focused an international spotlight on the stolen generations and did much to mobilise Australia into action".

NSW Magistrate Pat O'Shane. Photo: Wade Laube

One of indigenous Australia's highest honours, the Marcia Langton award for lifetime achievement in leadership, went to controversial retired NSW magistrate Pat O'Shane.

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Ms O'Shane, a Kunjandji woman, was the first woman to head a ministry (the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 1981) and the first Aboriginal barrister and magistrate in Australia. Ms O'Shane, 72, retired from the Local Court of NSW this year, after a 26-year career on the bench.

Deadlys organisers said she "blazed a path for others to follow . . . she is a genuine and inspiring role model for others".

Ms O'Shane is also the subject of an unresolved Judicial Commission investigation into many of her decisions as a magistrate.

Pop singer Jessica Mauboy, of Darwin, repeated her 2012 success by again winning the female artist of the year/single of the year double, this time for Something's Got a Hold on Me, which is the theme song for this year's NRL season. Country singer Troy Cassar-Daley was male artist of the year.

The Sapphires, which has so far made $20.4 million worldwide, was named film of the year, while cast member Deborah Mailman was named best female actor.

The acclaimed television drama series Redfern Now was TV show of the year, while one of the program's lead actors, Luke Carroll, was named best male actor.

Best hip-hop group was Melbourne's Yung Warriors, while hip-hop duo Stik n Move, from Queanbeyan, picked up the the most promising new talent in music award.

Other major arts awards went to Steve Mullawalla Dodd (Jimmy Little lifetime achievement award for music), Brenda Croft (visual artist of the year), Ella Havelka (dancer of the year) and singer-songwriter Shellie Morris (excellence in cultural advancement). Traditional Healers of Central Australia: Ngangkari won the published book prize.

2013 DEADLY AWARDS - THE WINNERS

Music

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT IN MUSIC -Stik n Move

SINGLE RELEASE OF THE YEAR - Jessica Mauboy, Something’s Got a Hold on Me

ALBUM OF THE YEAR -Archie Roach, Into the Bloodstream

BAND OF THE YEAR - Street Warriors

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR -Troy Cassar-Daley

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR -Jessica Mauboy

HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Yung Warriors

Sport

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT -Mariah Williams

AFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Adam Goodes

NRL PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Johnathan Thurston

FEMALE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR -Ashleigh Barty

MALE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR - Daniel Geale

Arts

DANCER OF THE YEAR - Ella Havelka

VISUAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Brenda Croft

MALE ACTOR OF THE YEAR -Luke Carroll (Redfern Now)

FEMALE ACTOR OF THE YEAR -Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires)

FILM OF THE YEAR - The Sapphires

TELEVISION SHOW OF THE YEAR - Redfern Now

PUBLISHED BOOK OF THE YEAR - NPY Women’s Council Aboriginal Corporation

(Traditional Healers of Central Australia: Ngangkari)

Community

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH -Professor Pat Dudgeon

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION -Deadly Sista Girlz and the David Wirrpanda Foundation

HEALTH WORKER OF THE YEAR -Leonie Morcome, Biripi Aboriginal Medical Service

11 comments

If Tony Abbott's mouth is proportional to the size of the promises that he has made to our indigenous people then things may be OK but if his mouth is proportional to the lies that he has told since the "Big Dummy Spit" then Archie Roach should start worrying because Archie, "You can Trust a Thief but never a Liar."

Commenter

Appsie of TOWNSEND

Location

Date and time

September 10, 2013, 8:34PM

Indigenous Australians should look at their role in the dreadful situation their people are in. Stop blaming politicians and expecting them to do all the heavy lifting. Fix the grog, delinquency, violence, education and welfare dependency within your communities and engage in the wider society with the intention of being an integral part of it. Recognition in the Constitution means jack if your children are illiterate, hungry, diseased and neglected. And if you want a say about asylum seekers, engage in the political process like everyone else. Make your case and convince people of the merits of your argument. Simply being indigenous does not convey any special insight or greater weight in this debate.

Commenter

Seamus O'Connor

Location

Date and time

September 10, 2013, 10:01PM

Shamefully callous comments. Start with some history, from 1770 or 1788 to the rise of the mining super-magnates. Then you can start on Aborginal culture. How did the Irish respond to the overbearing British occupiers who tried to rub out their culture? You have an awful lot to learnabout Australian history!

Commenter

Wobbles

Location

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 6:06AM

Wile I agree with what you say to a point I dont think its fair that you tar all aboriginals with the same brush. I beleve there are more who do make a worthwile contribution to this country than not. Yes there are the dead heads that you speak of but there are plenty of white Australians who are in the same boat, it is not purely and Indigenous issue.

Commenter

Milo11

Location

ACT

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 9:41AM

Seamus, great comments. If you were living 150 ago and under instruction from the empire.You are an embarrassment to the heritage of your name.

Commenter

James

Location

Thornbury

Date and time

September 10, 2013, 11:43PM

Forget being serious about indigenous people, they get enough money, how about being serious about pensioners. We have worked AND paid taxes all our lives instead of standing with our hands out. Now is the time to put some serious increases into the pensions

Commenter

BigJim

Location

Perth

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 12:14AM

Well done to all of the recognised in this year's awards. Fine people, excellent leaders and great role models. This Country is truly blessed to have such a wealth of outstanding individuals. In the "white" World, one has to look and think hard for it's leaders. They are there and they are able to stand proudly beside the exemplary indigenous leaders. O'Shane, Roach, Mailman, Goodes, Barty and so many more. I for one am rejoicing in this acknowledgement of greatness and achievement throughout the indigenous community. As a whitey, I live in exciting times for Aboriginal Australians.

Commenter

binsonharkonna

Location

Outside looking in

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 1:47AM

Archie you are a living legend but the problem is Abbott promised numerous issues would be the number one priority when in Government (including but not limited to; indigenous affairs, climate change, mining tax, the cost of living, asylum seekers) so you don't really know what to believe.... especially when his very first action was to terminate a diplomatic position, hardly that important. Don't hold your breathe considering the architect of the Intervention Mal Brough is back with the full support of Abbott despite being named by the Federal Court as instrumental in a political assassination. With friends like that who needs enemies?

Commenter

Andrew

Location

Geraldton

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 1:58AM

So Abbott has to "prove" he is serious about indigenous affairs. Did Archie Roach make the same demand made of Rudd and Gillard?

Commenter

KevinC

Location

Sunshine Coast

Date and time

September 11, 2013, 7:38AM

IT's About time that the indegnouse people got ridd of all those chips off their shoulders and got on with life. The whole world is full of sad storys , and there always will be many more to come. Its not that the governments haven't helped the indegenouse people but the problem has been so far that many indegenouse people haven't tried to helped themselves. God helps everybody but he only do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves . like sunrising and sun setting, send the rain and give us plenty of oxygen to breath. But it's up to us whether we accept his help or not. If we don't then it's not God problem but our problem. I hope that the anology makes a little bitt of sense.